In the month of October 1962, humanity veered closer toward destruction more so than ever in the contemporary era. This transpired after an American reconnaissance aircraft discovered that Soviet atomic weapon bases were under construction on the island of Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a naval blockade encircling the island. What followed was nearly 14 days of extreme anxiety.
The danger was clear. Should President Kennedy, or else the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire on their enemy, a series involving worldwide nuclear strikes followed by counterstrikes might have followed, casting humanity into all-out oblivion.
The Cuban missile crisis has been documented repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as television programmes. But, in its latest installment, a prominent audio documentary series The Bomb has brought a novel element to the story. The series is jointly hosted by Kennedy's relative alongside Khrushchev's descendant, relatives belonging to the leaders who, over two tense weeks, grasped the fate of the world in their hands.
"What was the Soviet side considering? What were Washington considering?" ponders Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant and an academic of global relations.
In her view, the unique appeal of the podcast is its attempt to question: "How can individuals hate one another and confront each other?"
"I am acutely aware how profound it is that humans can be friends or else have the potential to be total adversaries," adds Max Kennedy, the son of RFK, nephew of JFK and currently a writer and attorney. "We see this dynamic repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, demonstrating the profound irrationality it is to engage in warfare."
What’s remarkable about this event was that, because it transpired in the global spotlight, people around the world could watch nearly as it happened while it edged towards armageddon. However, the risk of destruction was more imminent than most people understood at the time.
"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted an airstrike followed by a ground invasion," notes Max Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba using the naval blockade, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have launched a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would've destroyed the naval vessels and sunk our largest and most important naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on Earth."
The fact this did not occur stands as credit to Kennedy and Khrushchev, who succeeded in keep their heads and engaging in diplomacy at a time when everyone around them was pushing for military action. Consequently, The Soviet premier agreed to withdraw the nuclear weapons in Cuba while Kennedy (although not reported then) withdrew American missiles based in Turkey. The relief was immense, as was a feeling of hope.
Yet, during those 13 days in October, the fear was palpable globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following the crisis, and Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented a slightly different picture of what happened.
"As you mentioned your father recalls it, describing it as a frightening day," Khrushcheva notes. "But in the Soviet Union, the public were largely unaware that much about it, since it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly wonderful and sunny."
Within the Khrushchev household, though, the perspective was different. "I was informed what a great moment it was, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to find a solution, thus avoided the war, which was a positive thing," she continues. Later on, however, that interpretation would not be held by all Russians. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a defeat for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up the United States."
This podcast is remarkably even-handed and well produced so much so that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This effect is, partly, due to the participation of historians. But, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for relatives of the heads of state of America and the USSR would appear side by side. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a symbol of progress.
"We are not the first," notes Nina. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son and formed a close bond with the former president's family."
"But we were strangers before the podcast," adds Max. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, following almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families have become friends, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."
Is that truly the case? One reason why The Bomb feels so necessary is because we once again find ourselves in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to be able to comprehend
A tech enthusiast and digital strategist with over a decade of experience in emerging technologies and innovation consulting.